שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ (she.ma.yah)
she.ma.yah
Shemaiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 38 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Shemaiah means "heard by Jehovah." It appears thirty-eight times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the historical books of Chronicles, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah. The sources list twenty-five distinct individuals bearing this name, ranging from prophets to Levites and priests. This high frequency suggests it was a popular personal name among ancient Israelites who viewed their lives as being under divine attention.
Two prophetic figures named Shemaiah stand out in the biblical narrative. One served King Rehoboam, delivering a message of peace that prevented civil war (1 Kings 12:22). Another, known as the Nehelamite, opposed the prophet Jeremiah and was condemned for false prophecy (Jeremiah 29:31). The contrast between these two men highlights how the same name could belong to those who faithfully conveyed God’s word or those who distorted it.
The name’s etymology combines the verb "to hear" with the divine name Yahweh. In ancient Israel, hearing was not merely auditory but implied obedience and relationship. To be "heard by Jehovah" suggested a person whose prayers were answered or whose life was aligned with God’s will. The recurrence of this name across generations reflects a community deeply concerned with their connection to God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shemaiah means "heard by Jehovah." In ancient Israel, hearing was not just about sound; it meant listening closely and obeying what you heard. When someone carried this name, it suggested a life aligned with God’s will, where prayers were answered and actions followed divine instruction.
Some people named Shemaiah are remembered for bringing messages of peace or leading worship, while others are noted for opposing true prophecy. This contrast reminds us that our words and lives matter deeply. We are called to be those who listen to God faithfully and speak truth with care.
For your faith, this name invites reflection on how you hear God’s voice in daily life. It encourages a posture of humility and readiness to respond, trusting that God notices and values your attentive heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 38 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shemaiah30×
- and/ Shemaiah7×
- of/ Shemaiah1×
- for/ Shemaiah1×
- and/ to/ Shemaiah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה4×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה2×
- שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה2×
- שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה2×
- שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה2×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֧ה1×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֥הוּ1×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה1×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֣ה1×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֖ה1×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֔הוּ1×
- שְׁמַעְיָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 12:22
But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
This verse identifies Shemaiah as a man of God who delivered a message of peace, showing how his name reflected a role in conveying divine guidance to prevent conflict.
-
II Chronicles 12:5
Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Yahweh says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
Here, the prophet Shemaiah confronts King Rehoboam with a warning, demonstrating that being "heard by Jehovah" involves speaking hard truths when people turn away from God.
-
Nehemiah 3:29
After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate, made repairs.
Shemaiah the keeper of the east gate is listed among those rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, illustrating how ordinary service and faithful duty are part of hearing and obeying God.